Brick



J. S. SMITH.

Brick [27. z 0 l Q 5 x 5 Mg. 5 a 5 g:\ z

Tlilizemww: ink/84a)? Patented July 6, i880.

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Aren't JOHN S. SMITH, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

BRlGK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,766, dated July 6, 1880.

Application filed November I). 1579.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it kno u that I, JOHN S. SMITH, of Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bricks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the'ert to which it up To this end the invention consists in forin ing two edges of the bricks with corresponding ribs or tongues and grooves.

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi" my improved brick. Fig. 2 is a. section taken on line at end Fig. 3 is e modification.

The bricks are. made either sq unre or root angular in plan, as shown in Fig.- 1, end of such thickness as the character of the work for which they are intended may indicate.

The two opposing sides A A are, by preference, made at right angles to the broad fncc B of the brick; but the edges or sides 0 (J are not formed upon planes at right angles to the face, but are formed at it less angle thereto, as shown plainly in Fig. 2.

A b is a rib projecting from the side or edge of (J, and there is acorrespondiug groove, 1), in the opposite sideor edge, C, so that cnch brick will interlock with the rib or groove of the adjoining bricks. Thus it will be soon that when thebricks are laid in an arch the sides or edges U'()" will lit each other accurately. \\'lu-u preferred, however, the edges, il stend ol' bring nmdc with the portions above and below the rib or the groove in u common plane, nm v be made us indicated in higiii thnt is to soy, the lip I)", below the rib I, is shorter than the lip (1 above suidrib, and on the opposite side of thcbrick the shoulder 1) projects further than the shoulder I), which is below the groove, till result being that when the bricks are laid in an: arch these ports fit with the requisitc uccurncy. So also when the bricks are laid upon zrflat surfuce, the projecting of the shoulder 6 beyond the lower shoulder'and rib and the lip 12 insures that the upper edges of the adjacent bricks shell fit each other closely.

I propose to manufacture this brick by the use of a machine in which the clay is delivered in a continuous sheet from a cylinder having in one end a suitable-shaped opening, said opening corres'pondingin cross-section to the shape of the brick, as shown in Fig. 2 or 3, and then cut the brick into the required length or width by any suitable cutting eppnrntus, preferably that heretofore patented by me.

I am aware that bricks have been made having upon their opposite edges interlocking ribs and grooves; but, so for us I am aware, none of them have ever been made with flat parallel feces and beveled edges provided with ribs and grooves, like in y brick, which has certiiin advantages over those of enrlier construction, in tlntt they can be used for laying a structure hnvin g u curved surface, like an nrch, with their edges fitting tightly against such other; and by inS'erting the alternate bricks oi the series they can be laid so us to form n plunc surface with their edges in close contnct. Another advantage is thut they can be made by forcing the clay in proper icmpor through n, die having its sides in proper form to produce the rib and groove upon opposite sides of a continuous sheet or strip, which can then be cut into suitnblo lengths by u cutter moving in u plztuc at right angles to tho horizontal plnne ol the sheet or strip.

Inm nwnre thut d1 brick h'nving ribs and grooves upon its sides has been made by passing n, wire in n zigzag line through a sheet or body 01' clny, us set forth in l'inglis'h patent No. lZ Sa'I, of A. l). 1541;); but said potent discloses no brick shaped like mine, nor any innchinery by which such bricks can be advu-utugeonsly nuide.

What I claim is-- The herein-described brick, having its upper and lower l'nccs flat, and having two opposite edges beveled end grooved and ribbed, and two other opposite edges in unbroken planes, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the tbrcgoing I have hereunto set my bend,

JOHN S. SMITH.

Witnesses r. G. BENNETT, Wu. H. DICKEY. 

